Disguising woodworm

[L15a]

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Does anyone have any suggestions about how to disguise the appearance of woodworm?
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I’ve sanded some old beams in a room that I’m renovating, and what started off as the odd little hole here and there from woodworm (that was treated a couple of years ago when I first bought the place), has turned into a series of channels as you can imagine.
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I know I’m not going to get it to disappear, but I would like to make it less noticeable because I’d like to have a beauty salon in there next year.
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The channels seem to be highlighted by the 120 years worth of dust that’s been sitting on it for so long. I’ve tried cleaning it with white spirit, but it doesn’t look any better. Does anyone have any better ideas??
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Thanks
Lisa

[bitingmidge]

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Does anyone have any suggestions about how to disguise the appearance of woodworm?

You could stick a false beard on him, and make him wear sunglasses!

P

[Wood Borer]

You could stick a false beard on him, and make him wear sunglasses!

Sexist - it could be a lady or transvestite woodworm.

Some wood eating insects already have beards - like me!!!!

Sunglasses would be the way to go if it doesn't usually wear sunglasses.


More seriously though, is it necessary to disguise the holes? Sometimes attempting to disguise can make it more obvious.

[bitingmidge]

I'd go for the "look at the worm holes" character thing as well I think.

They are there and form part of the patina of the place.

cheers,

P (That's if I recognised them under the heavy disguise of course!)

[L15a]

Ha ha.... very funny. Okay, so maybe I said that wrong.

But seriously, the place is going to be a salon for relaxation therapies, it needs to at least look clean.

Yes I know the holes ain't going anwhere. But the wood around them is a gorgeous, rich, creamy peachy colour (I think it's oak)..... and then it's spoilt by masses of dark dirty gray holes and lines from dust that's gathered over the years. It's an attick type space on the first floor of a small brick barn. I I don't think it's ever been used for anything before.

I know the wood worm is dead, and I know the building is 120 years old and will therefore be subject to some quirky features.... But I'm not you're average "trendy" girl, as it were.

Most of my clients (who tend to be the trendy type) wouldn't dream of moving into anything other than a Barett House (for those of you outside the UK, its a set of flimsy boxes with no features, that some people like to call home :confused:, sorry, I prefer a bit of character).

Some of those people have visited already, and most of them took a closer look at the beams (which just happen to be on eye level either side of the room) and said thigs along the lines of "Eugh! What's wrong with that?". Which is clearly not the response I'm looking for. It was a bit like having Paris Hilton round to do an inspection!

If I can just clean the crap out of the channels I'm sure no-one will even notice they're there.

So come on.... throw me a bone here..... please? Someone must have a good idea for cleaning it??


Lisa

[Harry72]

Can you get any more wood the same? If so get it cut on a bandsaw into strips say 2-5mm thick and simply glue it over the bad sides(covering the whole lenght), plane/sand them flush... and most people wouldnt even know!

[bitingmidge]

Vacuum and matching colour woodfiller?

Or woodfill then give it a quick coat with a liming stain to sort of mulch all the colour in together.

Or cover it with plasterboard.

I don't think there are too many other options. (Other than the moustache that is!)

Cheers,

P

[Ashore]

1...If you gently gouge out the channels with a small round chisel and get to the same wood underneath then sand to take off the edges and oil the whole thing you should be ok The holes leave as they are and plug with similar colour wood filler

2... Cover with lining boards

3... Fill holes and Paint with a relaxing mural

4... Hang pot plants from beam so folage discuises the holes , use the right sort of pot plants and you can make extra income

5... The great UK answer Wallpaper

[Shedhand]

It was a bit like having Paris Hilton round to do an inspection!

I thought she was fairly used to looking at ceilings...

On a more serious note. Why not find a spot on the beams that can't be easily seen and take a handful of shavings from the area, crush them into sawdust, mix with a non-staining clear setting glue (some one might be able to suggest one) and fill all the holes and channels with the resulting mix. Hoover the beam first though so the mix will adhere properly.
Cheers & good luck with the new enterprise.

[woodcutta]

Try sandblasting back to the parent material with garnet grit

woodcutta

[Ivan in Oz]

Stick Drawing Pins, Screw Hooks and Nails in the holes
and use them to hans 'STUFF' up there.

[Robert WA]

I like the sawdust and glue suggestion if you can find a piece of the timber you can drill, cut or gouge to get the sawdust. Mixing sawdust with plain white glue, the stuff that dries clear, has worked for me in the past.

Otherwise, go to the $2 shop (the UK equivalent) (an 80 pee shop???) and buy a bunch of little plastic, smiley worms. One worm glued into each hole. The customers will love them.

[8ball]

Why in gods name would you want to hide worm holes? are these "worm holes" or termite channels? Wormy holed wood is hard to come by and is very sought after in the states, if you have beams worth of it , timber it out send it to the states, sell it make a fortune and build a new building.
Old grown with worm holes in it is beautifull its not "dirty" looking , its not like you evicted the worms last week to make a business, the beams were probablly felled years ago before they were dryed, the worms (larva of some beatle or fly prolly) lost all intrest as soon as the wood was dried out ...